David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

09 June 2013

NEVER

This ripper from The Gestian Poet.

Same for the Crowd Selfie!

One hundred years ago : Crowd Selfie at the Capture of the Monument by Two Suffragettes

Photograph: Crowd Selfie at the Scene of the Capture of the Monument by Two Suffragettes

Producer : Central News

Date : 1913

Crowds gathered to witness the capture of the Monument by two suffragettes. At 10 o'clock on 18 April 1913, the suffragettes Miss Spark and Mrs Shaw climbed the 345 steps to the top of the Monument. They managed to distract the attendants and trap them in their office. The two women then attached the Women's Social and Political Union purple, white and green flag to the great pole carrying the City of London flag, and tied a banner that read 'Death or Victory' to the railings. Finally they released hundreds of handbills promoting the Votes for Women campaign that fluttered into the street below. It took some time before the police broke down the barricade, removing the women and the W.S.P.U. insignia, and freeing the attendants from their office.

While all this was happening, the happy throng spotted a Crowd Selfie Photographer setting-up high above them. They responded with the chant NEVER NEVER NEVER (a reference to the century later dictum NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR SELFIES). No charges were brought against any of those responsible for this publicity stunt : the suffragettes, the Selfie Crowd, the photographer.

Below : Selfie as popular London street poster, overprinted with NEVER NEVER NEVER (Frame font).